During the Minnesota Ambulance Association (MAA) Stars of Life Event on March 18, Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls) was recognized as a 2025 Legislator of the Year. This award is presented to members who are champions for the needs of the state’s emergency medical services (EMS) and first responders.
“I am grateful to be recognized by the Minnesota Ambulance Association,” Sen. Rasmusson said. “Access to EMS is critical, and I remain committed to supporting the professionals who provide this lifesaving care every day.”
During the 2024 legislative session, Sen. Rasmusson was instrumental in passing bipartisan legislation to ensure Minnesotans continue to have access to EMS. This $24 million aid package supports providers focused on serving Greater Minnesota. As reported by the Star Tribune, Sen. Rasmusson created the mathematical formula to distribute funding.
“We sincerely thank Senator Jordan Rasmusson for his steadfast support of rural Emergency Medical Services,” Rebecca Huebsch, Director of Perham Area EMS, said. “His leadership on the EMS Taskforce, his efforts to secure one-time aid for ambulance services, and his support for the Sprint Paramedic Pilot Program have already made a tangible difference in sustaining lifesaving care in rural areas like Otter Tail County. Senator Rasmusson has demonstrated a clear understanding of the urgent challenges facing rural EMS. His advocacy ensures that rural Minnesotans continue to receive timely and critical emergency care when it’s needed most.”
The EMS aid package also includes $6 million for a sprint medic pilot program in Otter Tail, Grant, and St. Louis counties to improve response times and patient care. It also provides regulatory reforms to ease EMS staffing shortages in rural areas. The changes make it easier to be qualified or certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Emergency Medical Responder, or Ambulatory EMT.
The Minnesota Ambulance Association represents the state’s EMS providers by working on key legislative issues, including recruitment, retention, funding, education, and leadership. For more information, visit www.mnems.org.